The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-10
THE HOUSE.

The Bills Providing for National Defense
Sent to the Appropriations Committee.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-The Speaker laid be-
fore the House the Senate bill to encourage the
manufacture of steel for modern naval ordnance
and other naval purposes, and to provide heavy
ordnance adapted to modern naval warfare.
MIR. Reed. of Maine, asked unanimous con-
sent for immediate consideration of the bill.
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, objected.
Mr.. Reed then asked that it be made special
order for Monday next, but encountered OBJ
lection from Mr. Eden, of Illinois. Mr.. Reed
inquired to what committee the bill would be re-
ferred under the rules.
The Speaker replied that the bill would 60,
under the rules. to the committee on appropri-
atoms.
Mr. Reed inquired if the bill was one which
the committee on appropriations would have the
right to report at any time for Immediate con-
sideration. He wanted, he said. to fix the re-
sponsibility of refusal to fortlfy the country
upon the gentlemen upon whom it ought to rest,
and he wanted to fix the responsibility upon
the Democratic party.
The Speaker stated that, in it's nature. the
bill for the support of the government,
and would come up under the rule which al
| at any time
| Mr.. Reed-Then the committee would have
| the right to report upon that bill during this
session.
Mr.. Cutcheon, of Michigan, raised the point
of order that the bill should be referred to the
committee military affairs.
The Speaker overrued the point of order, and
| stated that the bill should be referred to the
committee on appropriations.
| Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, inquired to
| the chairs decision that the committee had the
right to report at any time
| The Speaker stated that he had very little
! t,von 70 lab Of fh0 DiotAu o0f %pa
was bill for the construction of Notifications
or for the support of any department of the
| government it came within the rule allowing
| the committee to report at any time.
| Mr. Reed stated that his object in making his
inquiry very simple. 1t to have the
| bill referred to committee which had the right
| to report at any time, so that some responsible
| ty might rest somewhere, if there was a failure
/ to report. The Speaker having declared the
| parliamentary rules, he was satisfied.
| The Speaker said that he had expressed the
opinion. upon hasty reading of the bill. that it
| came within the rule that would allow the COM
| time.
The bill was then referred to the committee on
| appropriations
| The Speaker also laid before the House the
! Senate bill providing for the manufacture of
| ordnance for army purposes and making appro-
| priat;ons for coast defenses. In response to a
| question by Mr.. Reed, the Speaker stated that
| this bill would also 60 to the committee ap-
| preparations.
Mr.. Reed inquired whether the bill could be
! reported for immediate consideration.
The Speaker replied that he had so stated in
response to an inquiry in regard to similar BILL
| But if the Chair was convinced hereafter, by ar
kument, that the statement he had then made
was incorrect he would not hesitate to reract it.
Mr. Reed asked the Chair to allow him to ex
plain his persistence in this matter This was
| question for the Chair to decide. because that
| decision might govern the action of the House.
If the House desired this bill to be sent to com
mittee which could report at any time, that was
a very important fact for the House to be in pos
session of; and the only person to whom ths
House could apply for the statement of fact wa!
its organ, the Speaker. Therefore. he had asked
the Speakers opinion the subject. If tn,
Speaker should make a mistake on this question
of course the Speaker would afford the House al
opportunity to rectity its decision in the questio,
of reference.
ing that this bill properly goes, under the rule
to the appropriations committee, then it woult
follow that the committee may report at al!
time.
Mr.. Roed-And the House sending the hi
to the appropriations committee gives it tina
power2
The Speaker-The House does not send i
there The Speaker sends it there under tn
rules.
The bill was referred to the committee on az
| preparations
} On motion of MIR. Throckmorton, of Texas,
bill was passed authorizing the Fort Worth 1
> railroad through the Indian Territory
In the morning hour the House resumed cor
sideration of the bill changing the mode of CON
) pensation to United States district attorneys
/ marshals and commissioners.
Mr. Rogers, of Arkansas, made sharp or
: slaught upon the measure. declaring that it wa
D loosely and crudely prepared, picking ont flaw
in various provisions, and illustrating the war
of care shown in the framing of the bill by a.
sorting that one of the sections of the revenu
: statutes which it Is proposed to amend has re
! erence to an entirely different matter from thu
f with which the bill deals.
Mr.. Gibson, os West Virginia. intimated thu
y the gentleman's opposition arose from the FAT
S that the compensation Of the officers In his oil
d trict was interfered with.
If This imputation Mr.. Rogers Indignantly d.
n MED, and retorted with vague insinuatic
q that in respect to this bill ''the nigge
It in the woodpile" certain ofic,
It in certain district of Virginia Mr.. Roger
n continued to take up the provisions of the bill
10 seratim, and to critcise and ridicuie them in
y manner which brought forth numerous int
d ruptions from Mr.. Gibson, and at times the CO
d troyersy between the two gentlemen was tin 90
J. with personalities. Mr.. Rogers declared tn
20 the committee on expenditures in the Depar
D. ment of Justice did not understand the subie
I. upon which it attempted to legislate. and did
h even appear to understand the English Ian guag
n and in colloquy with Mr. Gibson congrat
IS lated that genteman's constituency upon havir
lie retired him from public life.
n Mr.. Gibson, who had reported the bill, ga
at that the gentleman from Arkansas had seen
le by innuendoes to refer to the fact that
n the officers provided for in the bill broth
he of his fMr. Gibsonsl. district attorney in Il
" State Of Virginia. There could be 9th
I'd construction placed on the language used til,
to that Of personal imputati0n upon the motive